Saina cruises at Malaysia Open; Sindhu loses

January 16, 2013 15:25 IST

London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal sailed into the second round of Malaysia Open after a straight games victory over Singapore's Gu Juan in the women's singles, in Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday.

However, India's rising star PV Sindhu went down fighting to higher-ranked Tine Baun of Denmark in the first round.

Saina, who is seeded No 1 in the singles, beat Juan 21-12, 21-15 in 29 minutes, at the Putra stadium.

In the first game, the two matched each other and were level at six before Saina displayed aggressive net play to open up a three-point lead to 9-6.

Thereafter, she just sailed ahead to win the game comfortably.

The Hyderabadi, however, did not start well in the second game and was at one stage trailing 4-7 following some brisk play by the Singaporean.

But smashes from the 21-year-old Indian proved too much for the unseeded Juan to handle and she eventually lost the game and match.

Saina will next take on Hong Kong's Pui Yin YIP.

Meanwhile, Sindhu fought hard before going down to third seeded Baun in 49 minutes.

Sindhu started off well, surging ahead 8-5. She maintained an edge over her opponent to lead 10-8. But the Danish girl won four straight points to make it 12-10.

Then

there was no looking back for Baun, who easily won the opening game.

A spirited Sindhu though showed a lot of character to fight her way back in the match by clinching the next game, 21-18, despite her opponent having the upper hand till 18.

But the 17-year-old failed to make it count against the world No 6 in the deciding the game, losing 17-21.

But in the men's doubles India's challenge ended as the duo of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar lost to the Indonesian pair of Angga Pratama and Ryan Agung Saputra 21-12, 21-16.

England's

Heather Olver and Kate Robertshaw moved to the next round after the Indian women's pair of Aparna Balan and Siki Reddy retired in the second set. They won the first set 21-11 and were 3-4 behind in the second when they withdrew from the match.